Folsom, Smitherman on Capitol Hill

I found Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom and Senate President Pro Tem Rodger Smitherman in the basement of the U.S. Capitol last night after a late meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The pair are in town with state leaders from all over the country attending meetings organized by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The closed session with Pelosi and other House Democratic leaders was a chance for state officials to ask for details on spending economic stimulus funds.

"She said it was their intent for the legislatures to have involvement in the stimulus package, those things outside of the stabilization funds," Folsom said.

Folsom and Smitherman said while they're here, they also plan to ask around about help for Jefferson County's sewer bond debt. They may get to ask Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner directly if he is in a Friday session at the White House.

"If I get an opportunity, I'm going to bring it up," Smitherman said.

Gov. Bob Riley and others have asked the federal government to guarantee a refinancing of some of the outstanding debt, giving the county a shot at lower and more stable interest payments.

"If they can stand as a co-signer... that could help us tremendously, even if they can't give us funds," Smitherman said.

By the way, I asked Folsom if he's going to run for governor in 2010. He said, "I don't know. A lot of people want me to."